Niantic, the company behind games like “Pokemon Go,” “Ingress” and “Harry Potter: Wizards Unite,” began opening up its technology to third-party developers Wednesday, allowing them to build their own location-based augmented reality (AR) games and applications on top of its platform. Niantic is kickstarting these efforts with a $10 million fund for indie developers. The
As Veterans Day approaches, A+E Networks has enlisted boldface names to participate in the new “Thank Our Veterans” PSA campaign to run across its portfolio of cable and digital assets. Kevin Bacon, Simone Biles, Ciara, Terry Crews, Jon Hamm, Scarlett Johansson, Toby Keith, Matthew McConaughey, Olivia Munn, Colin Powell, Andy Samberg, Tom Selleck and Russell
Sundance Now has stocked up on international drama, buying five shows from around the world that will drop on the streaming service in the U.S. AMC Networks’ Sundance Now has snagged the drama package from Banijay Rights, the distribution arm of France’s Banijay Group, which is in the throes of buying Endemol Shine. The deal
“Leaving Neverland” director and producer Dan Reed, the BBC and HBO are teaming up on antibiotics documentary “Superbug,” which will be sold internationally by Kew Media Distribution. Produced by Reed’s Amos Pictures, the feature-length film will tell the story of how humanity gained a wonder cure in antibiotics, but now faces losing it as so-called
November 6, 2019 3:31AM PT [embedded content] “This Is How (We Want You To Get High),” a previously unheard song by George Michael, has dropped ahead of the release of “Last Christmas,” a movie inspired by the work of the late singer-songwriter. Universal Music Group/Island Records released the new single Wednesday. Recorded during Michael’s final
French screen icon Catherine Deneuve has been hospitalized in Paris following an illness overnight, French newspaper Le Parisien reported Wednesday. The paper said Deneuve, 76, was in a “serious state” and in need of “extensive examinations,” the paper reported. But a source told Variety that Deneuve’s associates were reporting that her condition was not alarming.
In recent years, the romantic comedy has taken a sabbatical, at least from the big screen (it seems to have adopted temporary legal-resident status on Netflix). Yet it’s clear that one can point to the occasional exception: the puckishly delightful and moving 2017 indie hit “The Big Sick,” or last year’s “Crazy Rich Asians,” which
November 5, 2019 10:00PM PT International sales outfit Orange Studio has boarded Los Angeles-based Indian director Pan Nalin’s “Last Film Show” and will commence sales at the upcoming American Film Market. The film follows the 10-year-old son of a poor tea seller in India who begins a magical journey into the world of 35mm with
November 5, 2019 9:27PM PT It’s Nic Cage versus a shipful of killer critters plus a psycho terrorist in this slick, cluttered, unmemorable action thriller. “Primal” isn’t just a title that’s been used many times, it’s now a movie that seems to have put several prior movies in a food processor — to results that
November 5, 2019 9:16PM PT In this week’s edition of the Variety Movie Commercial Tracker, powered by the always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company iSpot.tv, Paramount Pictures claims the top spot in spending with “Playing With Fire.” Ads placed for the family comedy had an estimated media value of $5.24 million through Sunday for
Oscar-winning actress Marion Cotillard is one of the many French film figures who have applauded fellow actress Adele Haenel (“Portrait of a Lady on Fire”) for speaking out about the sexual harassment she was subjected to from the age of 12. In an article published Sunday on the investigative website Mediapart, Haenel said that Christophe
“The Little Mermaid Live!,” ABC’s often-jittery, ultimately charming concert special, strode into a heavy wake. It follows NBC’s now-shelved holiday-season tradition of live musicals whose very appeal was their dancing on the edge of catastrophe, as with ambitious stagings of “The Sound of Music” in 2013 and “Peter Pan” in 2014, shows whose occasional shortfalls
MADRID — Viacom International Studios (VIS) has reached an agreement with Spain’s biggest domestic box office draw, Santiago Segura, and his production company Bowfinger International Pictures. The deal gives VIS first right of revision and preferential acquisition over any upcoming projects for film or TV to come from the company. Segura first gained widespread recognition
Fox Corp. has cut a deal with Nexstar Media Group to acquire three stations in Seattle and Milwaukee for $350 million. The pact also calls for Fox to sell two of its stations in Charlotte, N.C., to Nexstar for $45 million. The station deal had long been expected as part of Nexstar’s divestiture of assets
Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story” is a blistering look at a relationship’s end, and the film’s production design becomes a way to understand the characters’ angst and individuality. We first meet our characters through voiceover as they recite the things that love about each other; the traits, the quirks, the strengths and all the things that
In today’s film news roundup, AFI Fest is honoring Martin Scorsese, Annette Bening will get a career achievement award, Katherine Erbe and Kelly Aucoin have new roles and Foresight Unlimited has a new owner. HONORS The American Film Institute will honor Martin Scorsese with a tribute during its AFI Fest on Nov. 15 at the
“Voting for Trump is like eating a Tide pod,” John Oliver told a packed house at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. “Once, I fundamentally understand. You didn’t know how bad it was going to be and maybe you were excited to learn. You do it a second time, you’re a
November 5, 2019 4:07PM PT Bac Films has taken international sales and French distribution rights to Rachel Lang’s (“Baden Baden”) “Our Men” starring Louis Garrel (“An officer and a spy”) as a unit leader of the French Foreign Legion. Lang’s sophomore outing, “Our Men” (“Mon Légionnaire”) also stars rising French actress Camille Cottin (“Call My Agent!”).
In today’s TV news roundup, Universal Content Productions announces a new podcast platform, and Netflix announces Ronny Chieng’s debut comedy special. DATES HGTV announced that the holiday special “Outrageous Holiday Houses” will air Nov. 28 with NSYNC founder Lance Bass as the host. Bass will take viewers on a coast-to-coast tour of North America’s holiday
Zack Gottsagen has wanted to be an actor since he was a kid. Now, the 35-year-old actor with Down syndrome is in the spotlight with Roadside Attractions’ “The Peanut Butter Falcon.” The road trip movie stars Shia LaBeouf an as outlaw on the run who befriends a man with Down syndrome (Gottsagen) after he’s run
The second installment of the ABC special “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” has a premiere date as well as the lineup of shows it will feature. The new special will air on Dec. 18 and will recreate episodes of the classic sitcoms “All in the Family” and “Good Times.” “All in the Family”
November 5, 2019 3:38PM PT HBO will be relieved to see that “His Dark Materials” doesn’t appear to be all dust and no substance. The fantasy show premiered on Monday night to 700,000 total viewers across all the premium cabler’s platforms. That may not be a Iorek Byrnison-sized debut, but it’s not too shabby considering
Apple TV Plus may need to be patient with its first original series. Analysis of the U.S. market indicates that Apple’s shows generated fairly modest levels of demand immediately post-release (see charts below). That’s according to exclusive data from Parrot Analytics, which examined the 24-hour period following the Apple TV Plus launch last Friday, and
“Superstore” fans will be doing a little dance in the aisles. NBC has ordered four more episodes of the hit comedy, lengthening its fifth season to a full 22 episodes. So far in season 5, “Superstore” is averaging a 1.2 rating among adults 18-49 and 3.9 million total viewers after seven days of delayed viewing.
Frequent collaborators David Wain and A.D. Miles are teaming up to develop a daily sitcom for WarnerMedia, Variety has learned. The project, titled “Today’s Special,” has been given a pilot order plus a four episode commitment, given that the show will be shot and aired daily should it go to series. It takes place in
We’ve spent the entire summer listening to the “Succession” theme; the sound of extreme wealth and extravagance courtesy of Emmy-Award winner Nicholas Britell. The score reflects the absurdly manipulative Roy family. He’s no stranger to composing scores revolving around power and families; “The Big Short” and “Vice” come to mind. His work has garnered him
Former News Corp. executive Zhang Wei heads the Los Angeles office of Alibaba Pictures, the film making arm of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. With China’s digital economy developing so fast, the company has expanded to become a major player in film distribution and marketing, as well as investment. She spoke to Variety ahead of her
Variety has been nominated for 70 National Arts and Entertainment Journalist Awards from the Los Angeles Press Club and received more nominations than any other entertainment print or online publication. “I want to thank the L.A. Press Club for recognizing the hard work of our editorial team with a record 70 nominations,” says Variety editor-in-chief Claudia Eller.
The live television musical is a genre that has seen great evolution over the years. Some productions have employed inside/outside settings, while others have incorporated 360-degree oners, and many have created immersive experiences where the audience is part of the production. For ABC’s first foray into this special area of artistry, it is upping the
November 5, 2019 1:31PM PT UPDATED: Andy Serkis is in talks to play Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne’s trustworthy butler, in Matt Reeves’ “The Batman,” sources tell Variety, while Colin Farrell is being eyed to play the famous Batman villain the Penguin. Robert Pattinson is on board to play the title role, Zoe Kravitz will play Catwoman